Folding table like structure



p 5, 19352- F. SGHIMMEIL 1,875,892

' FOLDING TABLE LIKE STRUCTURE Original Filed Jan. 28, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J2, Mhm/ Sept. 6,

F. SCHIMMEL 1,875,892

FOLDING TABLE LIKE STRUCTURE Original Filed Jan. 28, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Se t, 6, 1932. sc 1,875,892

FOLDING TABLE LIKE STRUCTURE Original Filed Jan. 28, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 1 6, 1932 UNITED STATES VFRIDOLIN scnrmlunn, or EABIBAUL'I', MINNESOTA FOLDING TABLE LIKE STRUCTURE Application filed January 28, 1929, Serial No. 335,418. Renewed January 16, 1932.

My present invention has for its object the provision of an extremely simple and highly eflicient folding table-like structure, such as a table or bench, adapted to be folded into compact form against a wall; or ,othersupport or into a cabinet.

To the above end, generally stated, the in vention consists of the novel devices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which 'il-j lustrate the invention, there'is shown a dining or breakfast set comprising a table and a bench at each side thereof,"arranged to be folded into a cabinet and wherein like chap acters indicate likeparts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a folding table and a folding bench mounted at each side thereof, constructed in accordance with one form of the invention and supported in part from a cabinet into which they are arranged to be folded; v Y Fig. 2 is a view partly inside elevation and partly in vertical section taken onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig.2 with the exception that the table and bench are folded into a cabinet;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section taken on 't'he line H of Fig. 1 with the bench folded into the cabinet; v

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detailview-showing one of the catches for holding the table or benches folded; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing a slight modification in the table and-bench construction.

The numeral 7 indicates. a cabinet having in its base three horizontally spaced drawers 8, above said drawers a centralcompa-rtment 9 and two side compartments 10-a-nd above said-side compartments, which terminate below the top of said central compartment, two small side compartments 11. Hinged doors 12 are provided for the compartments 9 and 10. The cabinet? may-be sbu'i l-t-into-a wall-or simply placed thereagainst and may take various different forms. Rigidlv securedZinthe compartment 9 at theback thereof is a relat-ively narrow shelf or ledge 13 and a; shelf or ledge 14 is similarly secured in each coin-' partment 10 but at a lower elevation than the shelf 13. r i Referring first to the invention, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the numeral 15 indicates a folding table and the numeral 16 indicates a folding bench at each side thereof. The construction of the table 15 and benches 16, are, as shown, identical the one with the other except as to proportions and they may be of any desired length depending on the seating capacity required. The table 15 includes an inner section 17; an outer-section 18, and an intermediate section 19 hingedly connected at 20. It will be noted that the hinges 20 are arranged to permit the table sections-17, 1-8 and 19 to fold upward into the cabinet 7 but will cause the adjacent edges of said sections to abut and actas stops to limit the unfolding of the sections 17 18 and 19 in the same plane. The i-nner section 17 at its inner end, is hinged at 21 m the ledge 13 and when the table 15 is in an operative position rests on saidledge as'a support, see Fig. 2.

A center supporting leg 22 is rigidly secured to the intermediate section 19 and an outer pair of supporting legs 23, rigidly connected by a .crossstie bar 24 is hingedly connected at 25 to the outer end portion of the outer section 18'. The legs '23 are arranged to be folded inward on to the under sideof the outer section"18 and releasably held by a spring latch 26 in either an operative position as shown in Fig. 2, .01 in an inoperative positionas shown in Fig. 3.

'llofold-the -table15 into the compartment 9, the latch 26, is first openatedto release the legs 23 and permit-the same ,to he -folded in.- ward or; .to the under ;side of the outer ,sec tion' 18 and be thus held by the spring gorges.- sure f t 12 7 26.- W th th leg 23. lded an inward a d upw r pr ssure an the outer section 18 willbuckle the sections 17, 18 and 19 at their hinge connections 20 and cause the section 17 and 18 llo noveinto I vertical positions with the "intermediate sec tion 17 and limits the movement of said outer section into the compartment 9 and positions the same parallel to saidinner section in front of the ledge 13 below which it extends. The leg 22, when the table 15 is folded into the compartment 9, is held suspended from the intermediate section 19 between the inner and outer sections 17 and 18, respectively.

To limit the swinging movement of the leg 22 as the table 15 is folded into the cabinet 7, and thereby cause the intermediate section 19 to move substantially horizontally into said compartment, said leg first engages the section 17 as a stop during the initial folding movement of the table 15 and thereafter moves in a reverse or outward direction and engages a stop 29 on'the under side of the outer section 18 which causes said leg to move with said outer section into the compartment9. v

To hold the table 15 folded into the compartment 9 therev is mounted on the free end of the outer section 18 a gravity actuated catch 30, the detent of which is arranged to engage a lock plate 31 on the bottom of said compartment. When unfolding the table 15, it is only necessary to lift the catch 30 to release its detent from the lock plate 31 and thereafter use said catch as a handle and pull outward thereon to cause the table sec-v tions 17, 18 and 19 to unfold and assume a horizontal position. During the unfolding of the table section 15, the leg 22 remains in a depending position and is automatically positioned on the floor to support the intermediate section 19. As the table 15 is being unfolded, the operator draws the folded legs 23 downward and outward against the tension of the spring latch 26, and when said legs are in an operative position said latch automatically interlocks with-the cross bar 24 to prevent the folding of said legs.

As the construction and operation of the folding benches 16 is substantially identical with thatof the table 15, it is not necessary to further describe the same or indicate the several parts thereof by reference characters and table are indicated as entireties by the numerals 32 and 33.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a relatively fixed support, of a folding table-like structure comprising inner, outer and intermediate sections hingedly connected, said inner section being hingedly attached to the support, a center leg for the intermediate section, and an outer leg for the outer section.

1 2. The structure defined'in claim 1 in which the inner and outer sections are arranged to be folded into substantially parallel arrangement with the intermediate section extending transversely therebetween.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the inner and outer sections are arranged to be folded into substantially parallel arrangement with, the intermediate section extending transversely therebetween, and in further combination with a stop for limiting the folding movement of the outer section in respect to the inner section.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the center leg is rigidly secured to the intermediate section.

.5. The combination with a relatively fixed support, of a folding table-like structure comprising inner, outer and intermediate sections hingedly connected, said inner section being hingedly attached to the support, a center leg rigidly secured to the intermediate section, and an outer leg hingedly attached to the outer section, said inner and outer sections when the structure is folded being in substantially upright parallel positions with the intermediate section extending transversely therebetween.

6. The combination with a cabinet, of a folding table-like structure comprising hingedly connected inner, outer and intermediate I sections, the former of which is hingedly attached to a relatively fixed support in the cabinet, a center leg rigidly secured to the intermediate section, an outer leg hingedly attached to the outer section for inward folding movement onto the under side thereof, a latch for holding the outer leg either in an operative or inoperative position, said structure being arranged to be-folded into the cabinet with the inner section extending upright above the support andwith the outer section extending substantially parallel thereto outward of the support and with the intermedi-' ate section extending transversely between the inner and outer sections. 7

7. The structure defined in claim 6 in further combination vwith a stop arranged to limit the folding movement of the inner section into the cabinet and a second stop arranged to limit the folding movement of the outer section toward the inner section.

' 8. The combination with a relatively fixed support, of a folding table-like structure comprising hingedly connected inner, outer and of the table top, and alock member cooperating with the latch, said latch being arranged to engage the lock member during the downward swinging movement of the table top, to be lifted thereby to move over said look member for automatic interlocking engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRIDOLIN SCHIMMEL. 

